What's Going On? February 29th-March 4th

Fundamentals of Programming

Different students are at different points in their learning in Fundamentals of Programming.  In order to make sure that we're all moving in the right direction, we'll have a deadline on Tuesday.  By the end of class on Tuesday of this week students will need to make sure that their Paint Pot app is complete, the Parameters, Properties and Variables worksheet is complete and that the Parameters, Properties and Variables formative assessment is complete.

After all of the students have taken this formative we can then have a group discussion on Thursday about the different programming concepts that we've talked about so far this semester.  We need to make sure that all students are able to differentiate between a property and a variable and when it is important to create a variable to keep track of information.  After we are able to solidify our understanding of these concepts students will move on to the "Android Mash" app.  During this app we will learn how to create a procedure in order to make our code more efficient.


Programming the Web 1

This week we will start our sixth lesson of the year.  During this lesson students will spend more time looking at how to change the appearance of a website using CSS.  We will look at how to create an inline style, an embedded style, as well as a linked style sheet.  We talk about the different ways to change the appearance of text, how to add borders, and many other items that will help enhance the look of our pages.  Along with this lesson, students will need to read chapters 11 and 12 in our textbook and complete the accompanying reading guide.  We will have our weekly review questions on Friday.  Also, we will complete assignments 6a, 6b and 6c.  Please see BlackBoard for more details on the assignments.

If students need more time in the lab to complete our work, please let me know.  I arrive to school by 7am each day and would be happy to let you into the lab early.




Programming the Web 2

This week students will work on creating an image gallery for our redesigned web pages.  We have looked at two different examples in class, but groups can choose any method for creating an image gallery that they would like.  The image gallery should be complete by the end of the week.

What's Going On? February 22-26th

Fundamentals of Programming

This week students will be focusing their attention on finishing the Paint Pot app.  During the creation of this app, students were introduced to the concept of a variable.  We'll talk about how variables play an important role in computer programming.  We'll also compare and contrast a property with a variable.

Once students have completed the Paint Pot app, we will move to the Android Mash app.  This app is similar to the arcade game "whack a mole".  While creating this app, students will learn how to define their own procedure and how to use a time component within an app.  Students will also have the opportunity to customize this app after completing the basic app through the video tutorial.


Programming the Web 1

This week students will move on to lesson 5 and we will start using the industry-standard program Adobe DreamWeaver.  This week students will focus on adding images to a website and will learn how to create a clickable image map.  Included with this week, students will need to read chapter 7 in the textbook and complete the accompanying reading guide.  This will help students prepare for our end of the week summative review questions which are posted on BlackBoard.  Additionally, students will have three web assignments to complete.  The first assignment will lead students through adding images to a web site, the second will lead students through creating an image map, and the third will allow students to add images to their personal web pages.


Programming the Web 2

At the end of last week we worked with transitions and started working with image gallery techniques.  This week we will continue to explore image gallery techniques and students will add an image page to their redesigned web page.

What's Going On? February 15-19th

Fundamentals of Programming

This week students should be wrapping up their first summative assessment with their soundboard app partner project.  I have seen some great apps so far!  Students have created a xylophone, a piano, and animals sound apps.  It's great to see students design and implement their first apps.



Once we have completed the soundboard apps and updated our portfolio pages, students will move on to the "Paint Pot" app.  The Paint Pot app is a drawing app that allows the user to draw on a picture with dots and lines.  The app includes a "wipe" button that clears the drawing and a "take picture" button that allows the user to take a picture that can be drawn on.  Students are encouraged to customize this app by adding in new features such as additional color buttons, an improved design view, and a way to change the size of the line being drawn.  With this app, students will be introduced to several more computer science principles.  Most importantly, students will start working with variables.  Variables are an integral part of most computer languages so it is important that students get a good understanding of what they are and how we can use them.


Programming the Web 1

This week students will be working on lesson 4.  During this unit students will learn how to create links to visit external websites, to link pages within their website and to create links within a page.

This week students will have a reading guide to complete by Friday's class.  We will also have our ten multiple choice questions as a summative assessment on Friday.  Students will also complete three assignments related to link creation: 4a, 4b, and 4c.

Students are considered "on pace" if unit 4 is complete by the end of class on Friday.  If students need additional time in the lab, please check with me.  We can arrange a time before or after school.


Programming the Web 2

The web 2 students should have their home pages for their redesigned web pages complete by the beginning of this week.  Once this is complete, we can move on to adding features using CSS to make our links more interesting.  This week students will explore a couple of ways to add some CSS to enhance the look of their links.  Students will then apply a technique of their choice to the home page of their redesigned site.  Students are considered "on pace" for the class if our formative link work in complete and the link functionality has been added to your website home page.